FAQ's
on Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing with Sensory Testing (FEESST):
What is FEESST?
FEESST is an alternative test to the X-ray test of
swallowing that uses a specifically designed endoscope in order to assess both
the SENSORY and MOTOR components of the swallow.
FEESST is a two part test.
The first part of the test assesses sensation in the larynx in order to illicit
an airway protective reflex. The second part of the test involves giving food
to the patient (with green food coloring mixed in) and watching/ tracking where
the food travels in the throat region.
What medical devices does FEESST
utilize?
A specially designed endoscope that contains a small hollow opening
or port. Through the port, pulses of air are administered from a device called
the Air Pulse Sensory Stimulator.The other components include a VCR, a monitor,
a camera, a light source and a video printer. How
does the Air Pulse Sensory Stimulator (APSS) work?
The APSS consists of
a flexible fiber optic endoscope tube, connected to an air pulse generator. When
the tube is placed through the nose into the middle of the throat, pulses of air,
varying in duration and intensity, are delivered to elicit an involuntary throat
reflex.
By using the APSS, clinicians can easily determine which side of the
throat is numb and simply have the patient turn his or her head so that the incoming
food is exposed to the side of the of the throat with normal sensation. Who
is FEESST generally used on?
FEESST is generally used on the elderly,
patients with stroke,chronic cough, reflux, Parkinson's disease, and patients
with other chronic neurological conditions who have developed swallowing problems
or DYSPHAGIA. Why
is FEESST used on stroke patients?
Just as some patients suffer from motor
paralysis after a stroke, they can also experience sensory paralysis in their
throat after stroke. Stroke
accounts for nearly 250,000 deaths each year in this country, about 40,000 of
which occur from aspiration pneumonia. One of the most devastating and common
complications of stroke is difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia), noted in some
30% of all stroke patients. Studies
with FEESST showed that stroke patients exhibiting dysphagia can predispose them
to the development of aspiration. Knowledge of sensory discrimination in this
area will lead to more precise therapeutic maneuvers by clinicians to ensure a
safer swallow for their patients. How
long does the procedure take?
The procedure takes about ten minutes. Is
FEESST reimbursable?
Yes. Through private medical insurance as well as
Medicare. Where
can I order the actual machine?
You may purchase various different configurations
of FEESST through the Pentax Precision Instrument Corporation. To visit their
website, please click
here.
Are there other websites on FEESST?
Yes.
To visit the FEESST.com website, please click
here.
Is
there information on FEESST in other languages other than English?
Yes.
To visit the FEESST website written in German, please click
here.
If I have further questions regarding ear, nose and
throat problems, where can I go?
For further information regarding questions
relating to ear, nose and throat problems, please visit the Department of Otolaryngology/Head
and Neck Surgery at Columbia University and New York Presbyterian Hospital by
clicking
here. | 
